First, there is not a sport or hobbie that doctors and nurses hate more than horses so take what they say with a grain of salt. You also need to get a calm dead broke horse and then take some lessons. Letting the horse touch the electric wire was your fault and you can't blame that on the horse. You need to learn to feel what a horse is going to do. If indeed the horse bucked ( most of the bucks are actually horses jumping out from under someone)then he gave you warnings that you didn't have the experience to heed. Lessons can help you do that. If I were in your shoes I would sell the horse and take lessons at a GOOD barn and see if I even physically could ride after everything gets healed. Then you can see about finding an appropriate horse.

There's nothing like the Rockies in the springtime... Nothing like the freedom in the air... And there ain't nothing better than draggin calves to the fire and there's nothing like the smell of burning hair. -Brenn Hill

You are probably a fantastic rider, you were brave to get back on the first time you fell off :)
Maybe if you get back into riding you should go to a centre or barn where they will have nice quiet horses to get you back into it. Lease your horse out (unless there is someone else you know that can ride him).

If I was you, I would sell your current horse to someone who can handle him better. It sounds like he's just too much for you, and it seems foolish to get back on him again since you've already been badly injured on him twice. That's especially the case now because you're more fragile than you were before and if you have another fall like that, it could be all over for you. I would buy a really seasoned gaited horse around 12-15 years old. A gaited breed would be easier on your back and they're known for their calm temperaments. If you still want to ride, I say go for it but be very cautious and make wise choices.

"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is ultimately to be at peace with himself.
What a man can be, he must be." Abraham Maslow, 1968

There is nothing wrong with admitting you are scared. A little fear is healthy. It keeps us focused and makes us open to learning and advice and when dealing with horses you have to be open minded. I wouldn't chuck riding horses, but maybe you should change your goals for a while. Maybe this means riding some dead broke ,old ,slow babysitter for a while, or changing the type of riding you do. Also I have a permanent injury that makes it hard to ride the way I used to if at all, and I am taking up breeding and looking into judging. There are so many ways to stay in horses. Don't worry just get better and your answer will come.

My opinion pretty much mirrors everyone else's. Either get a more broke horse, or take some training with him. Horse riding is dangerous, there's no arguing with that. You can minimize your chances of getting hurt by learning all you can and being physically and mentally prepared for it.

"Until one has loved an animal, part of one's soul remains unawakened..."
- Anatole France

I understand that touching the electric fence was my fault. Neither of us knew it was there, but I should not have let him stick his nose out. I don't blame that on him.
I wasn't doing everything on my own, I was having lessons every week on him. I'm not prepared to sell him yet. I know a couple people who are happy to come ride him for me and I'm going to cut his feed back.

If you love horseback riding so much, maybe you should get an older horse. One that's been around people and just everything for so long that he never spooks, is super friendly, etc...
If you and this horse have a bond, try working with him. Maybe have a trainer work with you and him. Though, I'm not so sure he's got anything wrong. The first buck, something was obviously wrong, you just haven't determined why he reacted like that. You claim it was so unlike him, then something startled him. It wasn't just a random buck... The second buck - he touched an electric fence, it's an expected result.

I think you should get one of those protective vests. And maybe you should just trail ride, it is less dangerous.

....this depends on what kind of a trail rider you are I guess. I've ridden in the arena and that's my "safe" place to try new things. I ride on trails and I'm jumping fallen trees, climbing steep embankments, crossing stream beds, dodging between trees, trying to hold onto a horse that has seen a horse-eating rock/duck/sign/vehicle/squirrel/fox/dog...........basically an arena is a very controlled environment...........trail riding ANYTHING can happen. On a good reliable trail horse, that's fine...but it sounds like this horse needs something more controlled for now.

I'd say if you DO have your heart set on this horse, take lessons! Have a trainer by your side every step of the way to help you correct this horse's issues and make this a safer ride for you! If you're NOT set on this horse....go out and buy a really gentle, fun but WELL BEHAVED....confidence builder!!!! Ride that horse. One that you can trust :) best of luck....sorry to hear that you've had such a rough time at it!

A horse is the projection of peoples' views about themselves--strong, powerful, beautiful--and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existance.

I'm still new to this forum so I don't really know anyone here, but I just need somewhere to get this out.
Last week, my horse bucked me off. We were trotting around the arena happily and he just threw in an unexpected buck. I only realised what had happened until I was in the air. I broke a vertebrae in my back. Just got home from a week in hospital. Every doctor and nurse told me how lucky I was, if the break was a bit further back I probably wouldn''t be walking.
About 6 months ago, my horse touched an electric fence that was behind the wooden arena fence. He went crazy and I broke my collarbone, punctured my lung and had a ruptured spleen. So that was a week in hopsital as well.
I don't think I will be able to get back to school for the rest of the term. I'm in grade 12 so that's not too great. I'm not going to ride for the rest of this year. I don't think I would be allowed to anyway. The doctors said that there's a strong possibility horseriding will be too painful for me to do even after my back is healed.

I've fallen off plenty of times. Why is it the last two times, I've had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance? One of my 'freinds' questioned whether I'm just not very good at horseriding, that its not that hard to stay on when a horse bucks. The nurses recognised me and they all told me to give it up. Pick a safer sport. My friends told me to be more careful. My parents are begging me not to ever get back on. No one really gets that its more than just a sport.
I love horseriding but I just don't know whether its worth it. Of course I know its dangerous but I don't want to end up in a wheelchair. The person who did the cast for my brace said that 90% of the females that he deals with spinal injuries is because of horses.

I'm not whining, I am grateful that I didn't hurt myself more. I guess I have a year to think about it.

You know, horseback riding is an extremely dangerous sport. I see SERIOUS injuries come in through work every day(I work in the Emergency Department). It is considered an extreme sport. Those accidents had nothing to do with your riding. If your horse has the intention on throwing you, he will. It doesn't matter how good of a rider you are.

After reading what you've been through and knowing from my own personal experience, even though I am a little sad that I have to quit the riding side of things, I also know how dangerous it is. I have seen the patients who are now paralized, I have seen patients die(think of Christopher Reeves). This sport is not a very forgiving one.

I won't tell you what is best for you. Only you can make that decision for yourself, but look at your future. Of all the sports out there, the Equestrian field has the most options and discipplines than any other sport has to offer. If you were to quit riding(mainly because of the dangers I assume), there are at least a dozen more different disciplines to choose from that do not involve riding.

I also, was forced out of the sport because of a horseback riding related injury(fractured pelvis 3 times that required 18 screws and a fractured wrist which has caused me to get that joint fuzed and 14 more screws there). I will always miss the sport BUT I am surprisingly also very happy with the experience I have gained and the risks that I am no longer taking.

I was given another chance to run a normal life, and believe I am taking it and absolutely loving it.

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